Closure with lid having an opening resistance

ABSTRACT

A dispensing closure system is provided with (1) a peripheral wall for extending from a container, and (2) a lid. A user can pivotably move the lid relative to the container between open and closed positions. For at least some range of lid movement, a resistance to lid movement is sensed by the user.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

Not applicable.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

REFERENCE TO A MICROFICHE APPENDIX

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates to a closure system for a container.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND TECHNICAL PROBLEMS POSED BY THE PRIORART

There are a variety of types of conventional closures. One type of priorart closure system includes a body for being attached to the top of acontainer. The body defines an opening to the container interior. Thesystem further includes a lid which is hingedly mounted on the body andwhich can be lifted up to expose the opening to the container interior.The closure body to which the lid is attached may be alternativelydescribed as the closure base or base portion.

For some types of products, it would be desirable to provide a closurewith a hinged top or lid structure that could provide access to theproduct (such as fluent products, as well as non-fluent products), andthat would optionally accommodate either the insertion of a utensilthrough the open closure to permit the product to be scooped out of thecontainer with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc., or accommodate the insertionof a user's hand through the open closure so that the product can belifted out by the user's hand.

It would be additionally advantageous if an improved closure could beprovided with a lid that would be removable and also optionally readilyadjustable to two or more open positions to accommodate the removal ofthe product from the container.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure could providethe user with a tactile sensation of resistance as user lifts the lid(at least through some range of movement) whereby, if the user releasesthe lid within that range of movement, then preferably the lid willremain in the particular orientation at which it is released.

It would also be beneficial if such an improved closure could optionallyprovide a further increased resistance at the end of a range of motionso as to indicate to the user that the lid has reached at least a first,predetermined, self-maintained, open position or location, and/or thatmovement of the lid further beyond the first, predetermined,self-maintained, open position will result in a greatly reducedresistance wherein the lid will no longer remain in a first,predetermined, self-maintained, open position, and instead will be freeto swing under the influence of gravity to a further (i.e., wider)opened position.

It would also be advantageous if such an improved closure couldaccommodate containers which have a variety of shapes and which areconstructed from a variety of materials.

Such an improved closure should also preferably accommodate ease of use.Preferably, such an improved closure should also facilitate cleaning ofthe closure.

It would also be beneficial if an improved closure could readilyaccommodate its manufacture from a thermoplastic material.

Further, it would be desirable if such an improved closure couldaccommodate efficient, high-quality, high-speed, large volumemanufacturing techniques with a reduced product reject rate to produceproducts having consistent operating characteristics unit-to-unit withhigh reliability.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention can be incorporated into a closure system that mayinclude one or more of the above-discussed, desired features.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a closure system isprovided for a container that has an interior where a product may bestored. The closure system includes a peripheral wall for extending fromthe container at least part way around an opening to the containerinterior. In a presently preferred embodiment, the closure systemperipheral wall is at the top of, and is a unitary part of, thecontainer.

The closure includes a lid that is movable between (1) a closed positionoccluding the opening, and (2) a fully opened position exposing theopening.

A hinge structure defines a pivot axis and connects the lid to theperipheral wall to accommodate pivoting of the lid about the pivot axisbetween the closed position and the fully opened position.

Either the lid or the peripheral wall includes a resistive surfacearranged in an arc partway around the pivot axis. The other of the lidand peripheral wall includes an engaging member for engaging theresistive surface with a resistance force whereby the user must apply atorque sufficient to overcome the resistance force in order to pivot thelid through a range of movement that is defined as including at least aportion of the entire movement between the closed position and the fullyopened position.

According to one optional aspect of the invention, the lid has a rangeof movement that requires application of torque greater than apredetermined amount of torque, and that range of movement may includethe entire range of movement of the lid between the closed position andthe fully opened position.

However, in a presently preferred form of the invention, the lid isinitially movable away from the closed position through a first range ofmovement upon the application of a torque which is sufficiently lessthan a predetermined amount of torque so that, if the user releases thelid anywhere along the first range of movement, the lid will fall underthe influence of gravity to the closed position.

Also, according to the preferred form of the invention, the lid can beopened further through a second range of movement only if the userapplies a torque greater than a predetermined amount of torque. If theuser releases the lid at a selected open position in the second range ofmovement, the lid will remain at that selected position. The torquewhich the user must apply to move the lid through the second range ofmovement need not be constant, but could vary throughout the secondrange of movement.

Also, according to the preferred form of the invention, the lid can beopened even further through a third range of movement wherein the torquerequired to move the lid through such a third range of movement is lessthan a predetermined amount of torque. According to the most preferredform of the present invention, when the lid is in the third range ofmovement, the user can release the lid, and the lid will swing freelyunder the influence of gravity to the fully opened position. Such afully opened position may be defined by a structural stop that engagesthe lid in the fully opened position.

Numerous other advantages and features of the present invention willbecome readily apparent from the following detailed description of theinvention, from the claims, and from the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, in whichlike numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same,

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a first embodiment of a closure systemof the present invention as embodied in a package that includes acontainer having a top defining a base portion of the closure system towhich is mounted a cover or lid shown in a completely closed condition;

FIG. 2 is an exploded, perspective view of the components of the packageshown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, fragmentary, top plan view of the components whenthe lid is opened to about 110 degrees relative to the top of thecontainer as shown in FIG. 13;

FIG. 4 is a view similar to FIG. 3, but FIG. 4 shows the componentsseparated;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the top of a portion ofthe container which defines the body or base portion of the closuresystem;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken generallyalong the plane 6-6 in FIG. 4;

FIG. 7 is an enlarged, fragmentary, perspective view of a portion of thecomponent shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged, fragmentary view of the components shown in FIG.7, but FIG. 8 shows the components from a different perspective;

FIG. 9 is a side elevation view of the package shown in the closedcondition;

FIG. 10 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, cross-sectional view takengenerally along the plane 10-10 in FIG. 1 to show the orientation of thecomponents around the pivot axis when the lid is in the fully closedposition;

FIG. 11 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 9, but FIG. 11 showsthe lid moved to an approximately 40 degree opened position;

FIG. 12 is a view similar to FIG. 10, but FIG. 12 shows the componentsin the orientation corresponding to the opened position of the lid shownin FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a view similar to FIG. 11, but FIG. 13 shows the lid openedto about 110 degrees;

FIG. 14 is a view similar to FIG. 12, but FIG. 14 shows the componentsin the orientation corresponding to the opened position of the lidillustrated in FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a view similar to FIG. 13, but FIG. 15 shows the lid at afully opened position of about 190 degrees;

FIG. 16 is a view similar to FIG. 14, but FIG. 16 shows the componentsin the orientation corresponding to the opened position of the lidillustrated in FIG. 15;

FIGS. 17, 18, 19, and 20 are similar to, and correspond to, FIGS. 10,12, 14, and 16, respectively, but FIGS. 17, 18, 19, and 20 illustrate asecond embodiment of the invention; and

FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25 illustrate a presently preferred aestheticconfiguration of a package that could include, but need not necessarilyinclude, the utilitarian features of the invention described above withreference to FIGS. 1-20, and FIG. 21 is a front elevation view, FIG. 22is a rear elevation view, FIG. 23 is a right side elevation view (theleft side elevation view being a mirror image), FIG. 24 is a top planview, and FIG. 25 is a bottom view (the bottom view being plain andunornamented).

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, this specification and the accompanying drawings disclose onlysome specific forms as examples of the invention. The invention is notintended to be limited to the embodiments so described, however. Thescope of the invention is pointed out in the appended claims.

For ease of description, the closure system of this invention isdescribed as a portion of a package that includes a container that has anormal, generally upright orientation when the container is positionedupright on its base. It will be understood, however, that the system ofthis invention may be manufactured, stored, transported, used, and soldin orientations other than the position described.

The closure system of this invention is suitable for use with a varietyof conventional or special containers having various designs, thedetails of which, although not illustrated or described, would beapparent to those having skill in the art and an understanding of suchcontainers. With respect to the broadest aspects of the invention, thecontainer, per se, need not form part of the invention, and thereforethe particular container illustrated and described herein is notintended to limit the broadest aspects of the present invention.

One presently preferred first embodiment of a closure system of thepresent invention is incorporated in a package illustrated in FIGS. 1-16and is designated generally by reference number 30 in FIG. 1. Theclosure system, which is hereinafter sometimes referred to more simplyas the “closure,” can be characterized as having at least two mainportions. One portion is a closure body or base, and another portion isa cover or lid that is mounted to the base. In the first embodiment ofthe closure illustrated in FIGS. 1-16, the base of the closure isdefined by a receptacle or container 32 (FIG. 2), or at least by anupper portion of the container 32. As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, inthe preferred first embodiment, a lid 34 is provided as a separate piecewhich is adapted to be mounted to the closure base as defined by thecontainer 32.

The package 30 is especially suitable for containing a paste-likeproduct or fluent product (which can be scooped or ladled from thecontainer with a spoon, knife, ladle, etc.), or a product of small,individual items, such as nuts, candies, crackers, cookies, etc. (whichcan be scooped out of the container, ladled out of the container, orremoved by hand from the container). Other contemplated products includeground coffee, sugar, or other material in the form of liquids, powders,gels, pastes, slurries, etc. Such materials may be sold, for example, asa food product, a personal care product, an industrial or householdproduct, or other composition (e.g., for internal or external use byhumans or animals, or for use in activities involving medicine,manufacturing, commercial or household maintenance, construction,agriculture, etc.).

As can be seen in FIG. 2, the container 32 has an upper peripheralportion 36 which extends around the top of the container 32 and whichdefines an opening to the container interior. The peripheral portion 36includes an outwardly extending flange 38, and also includes a wall 40that extends upwardly and inwardly. The lid 34 is adapted to be mountedto the peripheral portion 36 (by means described in detail hereinafter),and the peripheral portion 36 may be regarded as the base of theclosure. Alternatively, the entire container 32 per se, including theperipheral portion 36, may be regarded as the base.

In another contemplated embodiment (not illustrated), the peripheralportion 36 could be molded as a piece separately from the container 32.Such a separate, peripheral portion 36 would then define a separate baseof the closure 30, and the separately molded base or peripheral portion36 could be subsequently permanently attached to the container 32 bymeans of induction bonding, ultrasonic bonding, gluing, or the like,depending on the materials employed for the container and the closure.Alternatively, such a separate closure base could instead be releasablyconnected to the container 32 with a screw thread system, a snap-fitbead system, or by other means.

In the preferred, first embodiment of the container 32 illustrated inFIG. 2, the container 32 has a generally tapering configuration from alarger diameter upper end to a smaller diameter lower end. However, thecontainer 32 may have any other suitable shape, and the shape may have,for example, a transverse, cross-sectional configuration that isnon-circular. Further, an upper region of the container 32 and/orperipheral portion 36 (i.e., the container top defining the closurebase) may have a different cross-sectional configuration than the lowerregion of the container 32. At the top of the container, the peripheralportion 36 may have a non-circular configuration, and the lid 34 may beprovided in a configuration adapted to properly mate with such anon-circular configuration.

The container 32 may have a somewhat flexible wall or walls which can begrasped by the user and squeezed inwardly. However, the inventiveclosure system is especially suitable for use with a container 32 thathas substantially inflexible walls that are not intended to be squeezedinwardly by the user.

In the preferred embodiment, the closure components are molded from asuitable thermoplastic material such as polypropylene or the like. Othermaterials may be employed instead.

In the illustrated, preferred embodiment, the lid 34 has a generallycircular configuration to conveniently mate with the closure base orperipheral portion 36 as defined at the top of the container 32. Ifdesired, the lid 34 and container 32 may include cooperating, releasablebeads, or beads and grooves, to retain the lid 34 and container 32together in a sealing relationship. Such a retention/sealing structureforms no part of the present invention.

The front of the lid 34 includes an outwardly projecting lifting handleor tab 44 (FIG. 2). The rear of the lid 34 includes two arms 50 (FIG. 2)which each extends from the lid 34. Each arm 50 has a convexprotuberance 52 facing toward the other arm (FIG. 4). Each protuberance52 has a partially spherical surface, and the protuberances 52 arealigned to define a longitudinal pivot axis about which the lid 34 canbe pivoted between a closed position and a fully opened position whenthe lid 34 is properly mounted on the closure base, body, or peripheralportion 36 at the top of the container 32 as described in detailhereinafter.

Each lid arm 50 also has an outwardly projecting engaging member 54(FIGS. 6, 7, and 8) which has a converging tip. When the lid 34 ismounted on the peripheral portion 36 on the container 32, the engagingmember 54 can engage a resistive structure on the portion 36 asdescribed in detail hereinafter.

In the illustrated, preferred embodiment, the peripheral portion 36defines the closure base or body as a unitary part of the top of thecontainer 32, and the portion 36 is configured to receive the lid 34that is pivotally mounted on the peripheral portion 36. To this end, atleast part of the peripheral portion 36 may be characterized as defininga peripheral wall 53 (FIGS. 2 and 4) to which the lid 34 is attached.

In this specification and in the claims, the term “peripheral wall”means a portion of the closure structure adapted for extending from thecontainer to support the mounting of the lid 34. In the illustrated,preferred embodiment, the peripheral wall 53 (FIGS. 2 and 14) is aunitary part of the top of the container 32 and extends radiallyoutwardly with, and as part of, the flange 38 on the peripheral portion36. In an alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the peripheral wallmay extend upwardly instead of radially outwardly, or may extend bothupwardly and radially outwardly. In yet another, alternate embodiment(not illustrated), wherein the peripheral portion 36 is a separatelymolded closure base that is not molded unitary with the container top,the peripheral wall is a part of such a closure base, and the peripheralwall is thus adapted to extend from the container when the separateclosure base is mounted on the container.

In any case, the peripheral wall 53 need not extend completely aroundthe entire periphery of the closure base peripheral portion 36 orcontainer 32. Rather, the wall 53 may functionally exist as only a smallpart of the closure base or peripheral portion 36, and the wall 53 needbe of sufficient size only to accommodate the attachment of the lid 34.

In the preferred embodiment shown in FIG. 2, the peripheral wall 53 maybe characterized as being defined by at least the rear region of theflange 38 of the peripheral portion 36 that extends between, andincludes, two mounting recesses 60 (FIG. 4) for each receiving one ofthe lid arms 50. As can be seen in FIG. 5, each recess 60 is partlydefined by two, spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls 62. As can be seen inFIG. 8, one of the sidewalls 62 defines a concave socket 64. Eachconcave socket 64 has a partially spherical surface and is adapted toreceive one of the lid arm protuberances 52. The concave sockets 64 areoriented on a pivot axis and are adapted to coincide with the pivot axisdefined by the lid arm protuberances 52. When the lid 34 is mounted onthe container with each arm 50 received within a mating recess 60, thearm protuberances 52 snap-fit into the recess sockets 64. Thisconfiguration defines a hinge structure having a pivot axis thatconnects the lid 34 to the peripheral wall 53 (FIG. 4) to accommodatepivoting of the lid 34 about the pivot axis between the closed position(FIG. 1) and a fully opened position (FIG. 15).

As can be seen in FIGS. 5, 6, and 7, each recess 60 defines a resistivesurface 70. In the preferred, first embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6,the resistive surface 70 is formed in a generally arcuate wall 72 (FIG.6) by a plurality of generally parallel ridges 76 lying along an arc ofa circle partway around or about the pivot axis. In the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 1-16, the arc is a circular arc with the hingepivot axis lying at the center of the circular arc. However, in othercontemplated embodiments, the pivot axis could be offset from the centerof the circular arc, or the arc may be a non-circular arc (e.g., aparabolic arc).

The resistive surface 70 (defined by the ridges 76) extends from abeginning edge 81 to a terminal edge 82. The ridge at the terminal edge82 projects further outwardly than do the other ridges 76.

The above-described structures associated with the mounting of the lid34 to the peripheral wall 53 of the peripheral portion 36 providevarious operational advantages as the user of the package opens the lid.FIGS. 10-16 illustrate the relative movement of the closure systemcomponents as the lid is opened. FIG. 9 shows the side elevation view ofthe package 30 when the lid 34 is in the fully closed position on thetop of the container 32. FIG. 10 is an enlarged, cross-sectional view ofa portion of the hinge area and mounting structure with the componentspositioned in correspondence with the fully closed orientation of thelid illustrated in FIG. 9. The cross-sectional view illustrated in FIG.10 is taken along the view line 10-10 as illustrated in the perspectiveview shown in FIG. 1. When the lid 34 is fully closed (FIGS. 1, 9, and10), each lid arm 50 is positioned so that its engaging member 54 isdisengaged from the ridges 76 on the resistive surface 70 at the top ofthe container 32.

When the user begins to lift the lid 34 upwardly from the fully closedposition (FIG. 9), the user typically grasps the lifting tab 44 to beginto pivot the lid 34 upwardly. The lid 34 pivots on the pivot axisdefined by the protuberances 52 (FIG. 5) which are received in thesockets 64 (FIG. 8) in the recesses 60 of the peripheral wall 53 (FIGS.2 and 4). The lid 34 is initially pivoted away from the closed position(FIG. 9) through a first range of movement until the lid arm engagingmember 54 initially engages the beginning edge 81 of the ribs 76 on theresistive surface (FIG. 12). The initial engagement of the lid engagingmember 54 with the beginning edge 81 defines the end of the first rangeof movement wherein the lid 34 is oriented at about 40 degrees relativeto the opening at the top of the container (FIG. 11). Because theengaging member 54 does not engage the beginning edge 81 of theresistive surface until the end of the first range of movement, the usercan lift the lid 34 through the first range of movement without sensinga significant amount of resistance. In a preferred design, when the userreleases the lid 34 at any point along the first range of movement(before the lid engaging member 54 engages the beginning edge 81 of theresistive surface 70), the lid 34 can fall under the influence ofgravity back to the closed position if the hinge structure friction issufficiently small.

However, after the lid 34 has been lifted to the end of the first rangeof movement (FIG. 3), additional resistance is encountered as the lidengaging member 54 engages the beginning edge 81 of the resistivesurface 70. The user must thereafter apply a greater torque to lift thelid 34 further. The lid 34 can be opened further through a second rangeof movement (beyond the approximately 40 degree open positionillustrated in FIG. 11) if the user applies a torque greater than apredetermined amount of torque necessary to overcome the interferencebetween the lid engaging member 54 and the ridges 76 on the resistivesurface 70. Because the tip of the engaging member 54 moves from oneridge 76 to the next adjacent ridge 76 as the lid is lifted through thesecond range of movement, the resistance force or interference forcevaries because the system undergoes a small, transient, elasticdeformation as the member 54 “snaps” over one ridge 76 to a locationbetween the one ridge and the next adjacent ridge 76.

In the preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-16, the second rangeof movement of the lid 34 extends from the approximately 40 degreeopened position of the lid (FIG. 11) to an approximately 110 degreeopened position (FIG. 13). During pivoting of the lid 34 through thesecond range of motion (from the orientation illustrated in FIG. 11 tothe orientation illustrated in FIG. 13), if the user releases the lid34, the lid 34 will remain in the position at which it was releasedowing to the engagement between the lid engaging member 54 and theridges 76 on the resistive surface 70. The force of engagement betweenthe engaging member 54 and the resistive surface 70 is sufficient, inthe preferred embodiment, to withstand the force of gravity on the lid34 so that the lid 34 is maintained in any selected position wherein thelid engaging member 54 is engaged with the ridges 76. At any staticlocation of the member 54 along the second range of movement (where thelid engaging member 54 engages the resistive surface 70), the resistanceforce does not act to provide any substantial bias of the lid 34 towardthe closed position or toward the fully opened position.

The end of the second range of movement is defined at the locationwherein the lid engaging member 54 engages the terminal edge 82 (FIG.14) that is defined by the last ridge 76 extending slightly furtheroutwardly at the edge 82 so as to create a greater resistive engagementat that point. The user will feel or sense the greater resistiveengagement at the point wherein the lid engaging member 54 engages theterminal edge 82, and this will signal the user that the lid 34 is at afirst, predetermined, self-maintained, opened position at the end of thesecond range of movement (e.g., opened to about 110 degrees relative tothe top of the container as illustrated in FIG. 13). If the userreleases the lid 34 at any earlier point when the member 54 is engagingthe ridges 76, the lid 34 will remain at such a selected, open position,but such a selected, open position is not the first “predetermined” openposition. The first, “predetermined,” self-maintained, open positionoccurs only at the end of the second range of movement where the member54 engages the last ridge 76 at the terminal edge 82 of the resistivesurface 70.

If the user attempts to pivot the lid 34 further (clockwise as viewed inFIG. 13) to move the member 54 beyond the terminal edge 82, the usermust apply an increased torque to overcome the engagement between thelid engaging member 54 and the larger last ridge 76 defining theterminal edge 82. If sufficient, increased torque is applied to the lid34, the lid engaging member 54 will move past the terminal edge 82 andout of engagement with the resistive surface 70. The lid 34 is then nolonger subjected to a resistance force resulting from the lid engagingmember 54 and resistive surface 70. As a result, the resistance tofurther pivoting of the lid 34 is substantially reduced, and if thehinge structure friction is sufficiently low, the lid 34 can be releasedby the user and will swing freely downwardly under the influence ofgravity (away from the position illustrated in FIG. 13 toward theposition illustrated in FIG. 15). The lid arm 50 will eventually engagethe beginning edge 81 of the resistive surface as can be seen in FIG.16, and this will act as a stop to prevent further pivoting movement ofthe lid at the approximately 190 degree opened position illustrated inFIG. 15. The range of movement of the lid 34 from the positionillustrated in FIG. 13 to the fully opened position illustrated in FIG.15 may be defined as a third range of movement.

The discussion above regarding the opening of the lid 34 refers to theoperation of a single engaging member 54 as it engages a cooperativeresistive surface 70. However, it is to be realized that, in thepreferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-16, there are two lid arms50, and each lid arm 50 has an engaging member 54 for each engaging aseparate resistive surface 70 in the associated recess 60 (FIG. 4).Thus, the torque that a user must apply to the lid 34 in order to pivotthe lid 34 through the second range of movement (from approximately the40 degree opened position illustrated in FIG. 11 to the approximately110 degree opened position illustrated in FIG. 13) must be great enoughto overcome the sum of the engaging forces of the two engaging members54 with the respective resistive surfaces 70, as well as the inherentfriction in the hinge structure defined by the lid arm protuberances 52engaged with the recess sockets 64 (FIGS. 7 and 8).

An alternate embodiment of a closure system of the present invention isillustrated in FIGS. 17, 18, 19, and 20 which correspond to FIGS. 10,12, 14, and 16, respectively, of the first embodiment described above.The second embodiment closure system structure is substantiallyidentical with the first embodiment closure system structure describedabove except that the second embodiment closure structure does notincludes resistive surface ridges (such as ridges 76 illustrated inFIGS. 6, 7, 10, 12, 14, and 16). Rather, the second embodiment closuresystem has a generally arcuate wall 72A on the peripheral portion 36A,and the arcuate wall 72A has only one terminal edge ridge 82A at the endof a generally smooth, arcuate, resistive surface 70A. The surface 70Amay be a circular arc, as illustrated, with the center of the arccoincident with the lid pivot axis. In an alternate embodiment (notillustrated), the center of the circular arc of surface 70A may beoffset from the lid pivot axis. Also, the surface 70A need not be acircular arc. Instead, it could be non-circular (e.g., a parabolic arc).

The lid 34A has two arms 50A, and each arm 50A has an engaging member54A for engaging an associated resistive surface 70A through at least anintermediate range of movement. The interference between each engagingmember 54A and the associated resistive surface 70A is preferablydesigned so as to create a predetermined engaging force whereby the sumof the forces of engagement between the engaging members 54A andresistive surfaces 70A is sufficient to maintain the lid 34A in theintermediate position selected. The operation of opening the lid 34A isotherwise identical with that described above for opening the lid 34 inthe first embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-16. That is, in the secondembodiment illustrated in FIGS. 17-20, the lid 34A can pivoted through afirst range of movement upon the application of the torque to the lid34A which is less than the predetermined amount of torque, and thisrange of movement ends at the point where the engaging member 54Aengages the beginning edge of the resistive surface 70A. The secondrange of movement of the lid 34A is defined as corresponding to themotion of the engaging member 54A from the beginning edge of theresistive surface 70A to the terminal edge 82A. The third range ofmovement extends from the point where the engaging member 54A passes theterminal edge 82A to the fully opened position shown in FIG. 20 whereinback of the arm 50A engages the beginning edge of the resistive surface70A at the front end of the arcuate wall 72A.

In both of the first and second embodiments of the closure systemdescribed above, the lid preferably has a first range of movement beforethe resistive surface and engaging member become engaged along thesecond range of movement, and the lid preferably has a third range ofmovement after the disengagement of the engaging member from theresistive surface.

However, it will be appreciated, that in one optional aspect of theinvention, an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) could be providedwherein the first range of movement could be eliminated so that theengaging member is engaged with the resistive surface as soon as the lidis first opened from its fully closed position.

Also, according to another optional aspect of the invention (notillustrated), the system could include (1) a first range of movementwherein the engaging member and resistive surface are not engaged, and(2) a second range of movement wherein the engaging member and resistivesurface are engaged—but the system would not include the third rangemovement, whereby the second range of movement would extend all the wayto the fully opened position of the lid.

In yet another alternate embodiment (not illustrated), the engagement ofthe engaging member with the resistive surface may occupy substantiallythe entire range of movement of the lid from the fully closed positionto the fully opened position whereby, if the user releases the lid atany point along the entire range of movement, the lid will remain in thereleased position owing to the resistive force between the engagingmember and the resistive surface, which resistance force is sufficientlylarge that it cannot be overcome by the torque imposed on the lid by theforce of gravity.

In other alternate embodiments (not illustrated), the shape of thearcuate resistive surface can either be a circular arc having a centerthat is not coincident with the hinge pivot axis, or a non-circular arc.With such alternate designs, the resistive surface can be oriented toprovide an increasing (or decreasing) resistance force as the lid islifted through at least part of the range of motion of the lid.

While the above-described structural features of the various embodimentsof the present invention may be incorporated in a closure system orentire package having a variety of aesthetic configurations, the soleaesthetic configuration disclosed herein is illustrated in the variousorthographic views of FIGS. 21, 22, 23, 24, and 25. It will beappreciated, however, that the structural features of the utilityinvention may be provided in a closure system having a lid and base(including a base that may be a unitary portion of the top of acontainer) which may have other configurations, including otheraesthetically pleasing configurations or designs. For example, in suchother aesthetically pleasing designs, the container need not have acircular cross section, or a lower portion that decreases in size towarda smaller bottom, or a lid that has a flat top, etc.

It will be readily apparent from the foregoing detailed description ofthe invention and from the illustrations thereof that numerousvariations and modifications may be effected without departing from thetrue spirit and scope of the novel concepts or principles of thisinvention.

1. A dispensing closure system for a container that has an interiorwhere a product may be stored, said dispensing closure systemcomprising: (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container atleast part way around an opening to the container interior; (B) a lidmovable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) afully opened position exposing said opening; and (C) a hinge structuredefining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to said peripheral wall toaccommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivot axis between saidclosed position and said fully opened position; and wherein (1) saidperipheral wall includes two, spaced-apart recesses each having (a) apair of spaced-apart sidewalls wherein one sidewall defines a concavesocket, and (b) an arcuate resistive surface comprising a plurality ofparallel ridges arranged on an arc about said pivot axis, wherein (i)one of said ridges is the first ridge defining a beginning edge of saidresistive surface, and (ii) another one of said ridges is the last ridgedefining a terminal edge of said resistive surface; and (2) said lidincludes two projecting arms that each has (a) an engaging member forengaging said ridges, and (b) a convex protuberance for fitting in oneof said sockets when each of said arms is disposed in a respective oneof said recesses to create said hinge structure to accommodate pivotingof said lid sequentially through (i) a first range of movement whereinsaid engaging member is disengaged from said ridges, (ii) a second rangeof movement wherein said engaging member is in engagement with saidridges, and (iii) a third range of movement wherein said engaging memberis disengaged from said ridges.
 2. The system in accordance with claim 1in which said system is a closure for a container that has an opening tothe container interior; said closure includes a closure base portionthat is molded as a unitary part of the top of said container and thatdefines said peripheral wall; and said lid is separate from, butreleasably attachable to, said peripheral wall defined by said closurebase portion at the top of said container.
 3. The system in accordancewith claim 1 in which said lid includes a lift tab projecting laterallyoutwardly.
 4. The system in accordance with claim 1 in which saidengaging member has a converging tip for engaging said arcuate resistivesurface; and said arcuate resistive surface is defined on the locus of acircular arc which has a center coincident with said pivot axis of saidhinge structure.
 5. A dispensing closure system for a container that hasan interior where a product may be stored, said dispensing closuresystem comprising: (A) a peripheral wall for extending from saidcontainer at least part way around an opening to the container interior;(B) a lid movable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening,and (2) a fully opened position exposing said opening; and (C) a hingestructure defining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to saidperipheral wall to accommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivotaxis between said closed position and said fully opened position; andwherein (1) said peripheral wall includes two, spaced-apart recesseseach having (a) a pair of spaced-apart sidewalls wherein one sidewalldefines a concave socket, and (b) a substantially smooth, arcuate,resistive surface lying along an arc about said pivot axis and having(i) a beginning edge, and (ii) a terminal edge; and (2) said lidincludes two projecting arms that each has (a) an engaging member forengaging said resistive surface, and (b) a convex protuberance forfitting in one of said sockets when each of said arms is disposed in arespective one of said recesses to create said hinge structure toaccommodate pivoting of said lid sequentially through (i) a first rangeof movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from saidresistive surface, (ii) a second range of movement wherein said engagingmember is in engagement with said resistive surface, and (iii) a thirdrange of movement wherein said engaging member is disengaged from saidresistive surface.
 6. The system in accordance with claim 5 in whichsaid system is a closure for a container that has an opening to thecontainer interior; said closure includes a closure base portion that ismolded as a unitary part of the top of said container and that definessaid peripheral wall; and said lid is separate from, but releasablyattachable to, said peripheral wall defined by said closure base portionat the top of said container.
 7. The system in accordance with claim 5in which said engaging member has a converging tip for engaging saidarcuate resistive surface; and said arcuate resistive surface is definedon the locus of a circular arc which has a center coincident with saidpivot axis of said hinge structure.
 8. A closure system for a containerthat has an interior where a product may be stored, said closure systemcomprising: (A) a peripheral wall for extending from said container atleast part way around an opening to the container interior; (B) a lidmovable between (1) a closed position occluding said opening, and (2) afully opened position exposing said opening; and (C) a hinge structuredefining a pivot axis and connecting said lid to said peripheral wall toaccommodate pivoting of said lid about said pivot axis between saidclosed position and said fully opened position; and wherein (1) one ofsaid lid and said peripheral wall includes a resistive surface arrangedin an arc around said pivot axis; and (2) the other of said lid and saidperipheral wall includes an engaging member for engaging said resistivesurface with a resistance force free of substantial bias toward saidclosed position and said fully opened position whereby the user mustapply a torque sufficient to overcome said resistance force in order topivot said lid through a range of movement that is defined at least partway between said closed position and said fully opened position.
 9. Thesystem in accordance with claim 8 in which said system includes one ormore of said resistive surfaces and one or more of said engagingmembers; each said engaging member engages one of said resistivesurfaces with an engaging force; and the sum of said engaging forces issufficient to maintain said lid in an intermediate position selectedfrom a predetermined range of intermediate positions between said closedposition and said fully opened position when said user terminates theapplication of pivoting torque to said lid.
 10. The system in accordancewith claim 8 in which said resistive surface extends from a beginningedge to a terminal edge; and said resistive surface includes a portionat said terminal edge that provides increased engagement with saidengaging member to signal the user when the lid is at a predeterminedopened position beyond which the lid can be pivoted to said fully openedposition if the user applies a further increased torque to said lidsufficient to overcome the force created by said increased engagement.11. The system in accordance with claim 8 in which said hinge structurepermits said lid to pivot from said closed position partway toward saidfully opened position prior to said engaging member engaging saidresistive surface.
 12. The system in accordance with claim 8 in whichsaid hinge structure permits said lid to pivot from said fully openedposition partway toward said closed position prior to said engagingmember engaging said resistive surface.
 13. The system in accordancewith claim 8 in which said system is a closure for a container that hasan opening to the container interior; said closure includes a closurebase portion that is molded as a unitary part of the top of saidcontainer and that defines said peripheral wall; and said lid isseparate from, but releasably attachable to, said peripheral walldefined by said closure base portion at the top of said container. 14.The system in accordance with claim 8 in which said lid includes a lifttab projecting laterally outwardly.
 15. The system in accordance withclaim 8 in which said hinge structure includes an arm extending fromsaid lid and having a convex protuberance; and a recess in saidperipheral wall defined in part by two, spaced-apart, opposing sidewallsbetween which said arm can be disposed, one of said sidewalls defining aconcave socket for receiving said convex protuberance in pivotingalignment with said pivot axis.
 16. The system in accordance with claim8 in which said resistive surface is defined in a generally arcuatewall.
 17. The system in accordance with claim 8 in which said resistivesurface is arcuate and smooth.
 18. The system in accordance with claim 8in which said resistive surface is defined by a plurality of parallelridges lying along an arc about said pivot axis.
 19. The system inaccordance with claim 8 in which said engaging member has a convergingtip for engaging said arcuate resistive surface; and said arcuateresistive surface is defined on the locus of a circular arc which has acenter coincident with said pivot axis of said hinge structure.
 20. Thesystem in accordance with claim 8 in which said peripheral wall has arecess defined by two, spaced-apart, opposing sidewalls; said resistivesurface extends between said sidewalls; said lid includes an extendingarm; said engaging member projects from said arm; and said arm ismounted for pivoting movement to one of said sidewalls whereby said armand said one sidewall function as said hinge structure.